This blog is about the evaluation and treatment of trauma and attachment disorders. It focuses on Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy; the effective and evidence-based treatment for trauma and attachment disorders.

Dec 7, 2008

The Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Institute (DDPI) has been formed to allow therapist to become appropriately trained and certified as practitioners and/or consultants of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy(DDP). The DDPI has a certification process to become a certified practitioner of DDP and to become a certified consultant of DDP.

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, which is an effective and evidence-based treatment (Becker-Weidman & Hughes, 2008) has been developing for over a decade now. The purpose of the Institute and its certification program is to ensure that practitioners of the model adhere to its basic principles and to maintain integrity of the model. Dyadic Developmental Psychotherpay, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Institute, Certified Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Psychotherapist, Certified Dyadic Developmenal Psychotherapy Consultant, Certified Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Trainers, DDP, DDPI, CDDPP, CDDPC, and CDDPT are all registered service marks/trademarks of the DDPI and may only be used with its permission.

DDPI will provide a certification process for those clinicians who are utilizing the DDP model of treatment and who wish to become certified in having demonstrated their knowledge of its core principles and their competence in its implementation in their practice. To be certified clinicians will have completed a minimum number of hours both in DDP course participation as well as in receiving consultation of their utilization of DDP in their treatment (through video review). Clinicians will also be certified to be DDP consultants, who are responsible for the providing consultation to those applying to become DDP certified therapists.

REFERENCESBecker-Weidman, A. (2006a). Treatment for children with trauma-attachment disorders: Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, March, 2006.

Oct 26, 2008

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy is an effective and evidence-based treatment for trauma and attachment disorders. There have been a few empirical follow-up studies published in professional peer-reviewed publications following a group of families that received DDP and a group who received other forms of treatment. These studies demonstrated that the children treated with DDP had clinically and statistically significant reductions in various scales of the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach) while those who received other treatments (play therapy, residential treatment, group therapy, family therapy, etc) from other providers showed no changes and, after four years, actually showed clinically and statistically significant deteriorations in their behavior.

Craven & Lee (2006) determined that DDP is a supported and acceptable treatment (category 3 in a sixlevel system). However, their review only included results from a partial preliminary presentation of an ongoing follow-up study, which was subsequently completed and published in 2006. This initial study compared the results DDP with other forms of treatment, ‘usual care’, 1 year after treatment ended. A second study extended these results out to 4 years after treatment ended. Based on the Craven & Lee classifications (Saunders et al. 2004), inclusion ofthose studies would have resulted in DDP being classified as an evidence-based category 2, ‘Supported and probably efficacious’. Other than lacking two randomized controlled studies, DDP would have be classified as a category 1, "Well supported efficacious treatment," the highest level.

The interested reader may want to look at the following references for further details:

Becker-Weidman, A., (2006)“Treatment for Children with Trauma-Attachment Disorders: Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy,”Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal.Vol. 23 #2, April 2006, pp 147-171.

Oct 21, 2008

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Arthur Becker-Weidman, CSW-R, PhD.DABPS received his doctorate in Human Development from the University of Maryland, Institute for Child Study. He achieved Diplomate status from the American Board of Psychological Specialties in Child Psychology and Forensic Psychology. He is a member of the American College of Forensic Examiners.

Dr. Becker-Weidman has over twenty years experience as a family therapist, consultant, and researcher. He has directed mental health, addiction treatment, family service, and other behavioral health organizations.

Dr. Becker-Weidman has extensive experience counseling families and helping them through difficult times with practical advice. He has published over a dozen scholarly papers and presented at numerous national, regional, and local professional meetings. Much of his research and publications have focused on adolescent and adoptive family development.